Fountain pen



B. E'. SHLES'INGER, JR

Sept. l0, 1957 FOUNTAIN PEN 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 5, 1955 I Il Il Il Il II Il Il Il Il ll Il l! II Il I .il l! INVENTOR Septl0, 1957 B. E. SHLESINGER, JR 2,805,646

FOUNTAIN PEN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1955 n.. 7. I n l, n 9J. 0 w isw vivia INVENTOR ilnited States Patent O A FOUNTAIN PEN Bernard Edward Slllesinger, Jr., Falls Church, Va. Application August 5, 1955, Serial No. 526,60@

13 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-47) This invention relates to improvements in fountain pens and the like.

Fountain pens now presently available on the market require that the nib or point be wiped off after insertion into the inkwell. One solution to this problem has been the incorporation of a feed tube into the nib holder which extends down beyond the pen point during the filling operation. This particular pen has succeeded to some extent in eliminating the necessity of having to wipe the point off. This particular pen structure known to the trade generally as the Snorkel is not completely foolproof. Quite frequently the person who is using the pen fails to proceed with the necessary caution required and slips the point of the pen into the ink requiring that the pen point be wiped off. A further limitation of this particular pen is that it is not capable of holding a large supply of ink as compared with most standard fountain pens, because the mechanism for raising and lowering the feed tube takes up a considenable amount of space within the barrel of the pen.

it is an object of this invention to provide a fountain pen which completely `eliminates the necessity of having to wipe off the writing nib during the filling operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a fountain pen which requires no wiping at all after the filling operation.

it is a further object of this invention to provide a fountain pen which holds a goodly supply of ink and does not require frequent filling.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fountain pen which can be manufactured and sold at a cost comparable with other fine writing instruments.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a fountain pen which has a minimum of moving psarts therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fountain pen that may be filled readily without the danger of leaking ink from the nib during filling operation.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a fountain pen which may be filled without removing the cap which covers the pen point.

Still another object of this inventionl is to provide sa fountain pen that is of rugged construction avoiding the necessity for expensive repairs or part replacements.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and claims.

lnrthe accompanying drawings which illustrate by way Aof example various embodiments of this invention:

to show the pen as it would be during part of the filling operation;

Patented Sept. 10, 1957 Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View along the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View of the pen along the line 5--5 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the pen showing a modification thereof;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional View of a further modioation of a portion of the pen;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view along the line 9 9 of Fig. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of a further modification of this invention;

Fig. ll is a sectional view along the line 11-11 of Fig. l() looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary view of the pen shown in Fig. l0 broken away to show the pen las it would be during part of the filling operation.

The fountain pen as shown in Figs. 1 through 5 comprises a barrel member 1t), a pen cap 11 and a filling cap 12. Caps 11 and 12 may be threadedly secured to barrel 1t? or held thereto by friction fit or fany other conventional manner. The barrel 1t) is attached to a m'b holder 13 in any manner conventional and well known in `the art as by threading or press fitting. The barrel as well as all `of the other parts of the pen hereinafter described may be formed from plastic or constructed from metal and the like which is corrosion resistant.

The end of barrel 1t) adjacent the nib holder 13 is formed with an internal annular shoulder 14. A washer or valve seat 15 rests on shoulder 14 .and is cemented or otherwise secured thereto. Cooperating with the valve seat 1S is a valve member 16. The valve member 16 has an internally threaded stem 17 projecting through the valve seat 15. A leaf spring 18 is formed with a projecting screw 19 which lits into internally threaded stem 17 whereby the vlalve member 16 and spring 18 are fastened together. Valve seat 15 is fonned with an annular recess on the topside thereof as at 20. Valve member 16 is seated in the recess 20 to prevent lateral shifting of the valve member 16 as well as the leaf spring 18. Leaf spring 13 has formed therein or secured thereto la seat 21 in the center thereof for purposes hereinafter described. The valve assembly 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 may be constructed of plastic material and assembled outside of the pen and the valve seat 15 carrying the valve 16, the stem 17, the leaf spring 18 and the screw 19 may then be inserted into the barrel 10 and the valve seat 15 vcemented or otherwise secured to the shoulder 14 of the barrel 10.

A bearing sleeve 3@ is threaded to barrel 10 or otherwise secured thereto, and is provided with an annular ange 31 for reasons hereinafter described. An [annular gasket or sealing member 32 is carried by flange 31. rfhreads 33 are also provided in iiange 31.

A sleeve or piston 4? is slidably mounted within barrel 1h. Piston 40 has its outer end a feed tube 41. The feed tube 41 may be constructed separately from said sleeve if? and later glued or secured to sleeve or piston 40 or made integral therewith. The inner end of piston 40 has an outer annular flange 42 similarV to iiange 31. Annular flange 42 is recessed to receive a gasket or sealing mem 1oer 13. are provided in order to prevent the sleeve 40 from being displaced from the barrel 10. The gaskets 32 and 43 prevent leakage from expansible chamber C in the pen. An air bleed hole A is provided to relieve any pressures which might be created in the air space, formed between barrel 10 and Vsleeve 4t). The threads 44 on sleeve 40 engage threads 33 on flange 31 and serve to lock sleeve It will now be seen that the flanges 31 and 42 40 against linear movement when sleeve or piston 40 is in retracted position.

The sleeve or piston 4t) has an annular shoulder 45 formed therein. A washer 46 rests on shoulder 45 and is cemented or otherwise secured thereto. The washer 46 serves to hold la coil spring member 47 in position against a ball valveV 48 which seats in the constricted por tion 49 inside the feed tube 41. The ball valve 48 may be constructed of a light plastic or non-corrosive type resilient material capable of forming a tight seal in the constricted portion 49 within the feed tube 41. The feed tube 41 has a plunger 50 mounted in an opening 51 in the side wall of the feed tube 41 for lifting the ball valve 48 for reasons hereinafter described. The plunger 50 has an enlarged end or annular angc S2 which prevents dislocationof the plunger 50 from the feed tube 41. A `hole large enough to receive the end of the plunger 50 is made in a side wall of the feed tube 41. The plunger is inserted and the hole `or opening 51 is reduced in size by appropriate sealing, cementing or thermoplastic fusing operation, to prevent removal of the plunger from the hole or opening 51. A gasket 53 surrounds the plunger to prevent leakage through the hole 51 and about the plunger 50. A spring 54 maintains the plunger in extended position in addition to ball valve spring 47.`

An air relief tube 60 is formed in the feed tube 41 and is parallel thereto. The air relief tube 6l) extends from the tip of the feed tube 41 through the sleeve or piston 4t) to the top thereof. The air relief tube may be `of two parts as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The lower part 61 is made integral with the feed tube 41 and the upper part 62 being a small capillary tube adhesively secured to the inner wall of piston 40. A supporting bracket 63 atthe top of piston 40 guides the air relief tube into position with the seat 21 to close off the air relief tube 66 and prevent leakage therethrough when the pen is `being used. The `upper part 62 of air relief tube 60 is constructed of the plastic material similar to that of the barrel and piston 40. The end 64 of the air relief tube 60 extends slightly beyond the inner end of the piston 40 as shown best in Fig. 2. The end 64 cooperates with the seat 21 on the leaf spring 18 when the piston 46 is in the closed position and exerts la pressure on leaf spring 18 thereby lifting valve 16 from valve seat 15.

Fig. 6 shows a modification of the structure shown in Figures 1 through 5. ln this modification the air relief tube 60a is formed integral with piston 40a. The whole unit may be formed by die extrusion in which two mandrels are used simultaneously to form the piston 40a having the air relief tube 60a integral therewith. Annular flange 42a, sealing member 43a, and threads 44a are similar to those corresponding members shown in Figures l through 5.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show another modification of the sleeve 40 to Fig. l to 5. In these figures a piston 4Gb is constructed with the central chamber C offset or eccentric to the axis thereof to provide a thickened portion at one side thereof. The thickened portion 70 is re cessed iat 71 to receive a tube 72 which is equivalent to air` relief tubes 60 and 60a. The air relief tube 72 is cemented or otherwise secured to the recess 71. The end of piston 4Gb is provided with a feed tube 41h one wall of which is thicker as at 73 corresponding to the thickened portion 70 of the piston 4Gb. An opening 74 is drilled in the thickened portion from the end of the feed tube 41b past the ball valve 48 to connect with the recess 71. The air relief tube 72 is inserted into the drilled opening '74 and connects the atmosphere with the inside chamber C of the pen. This particular modification is of simple construction and can be readily assembled without difficult extrusion problems.

The fountain pen as shown in Figs. 10, l1 and l2. comprises a barrel member 110, a pen cap 111 and a filling CIL cap 112. 1n this modification a nib holder 113 is formed with an internal annular shoulder 114. A washer or valve cat 115 rests on shoulder 114 and is cemented or otherwise secured thereto. Cooperating with the valve seat 115 is a valve member 116. The valve member 116 has an internally threaded stem 117 projecting through the valve seat 115. A leaf spring 118 is formed with a projecting screw which tits into internally threaded stem 117 whereby the valve member 116 and spring 118 are fastened together. Valve seat 115 is formed with an annular recess on the topside thereof as at 120. Valve member 116 is seated in the recess to prevent lateral shifting of the valve member 116 as well as the leaf spring 118. Leaf spring 118 has formed therein or secured thereto a seat 121 in the center thereof for pur- \s hereinafter described. The valve assembly 11S, 117, 113 may be constructed of plastic material and assembled outside of the pen and the valve seat 115 carrying the valve 116, the steam 117, the leaf spring 118 and the screw may then be inserted into the nib holder 113 and the valve seat 115 cemented or otherwise secured to the shoulder 114 of the nib holder 113.

A bearing sleeve has one end cemented to barrel 111i or otherwise secured thereto. An annular rib or bead 131 is provided on the inner surface of bearing sleeve 136. The other'end of the bearing sleeve 130 is removably threaded to nib holder 113. An annular gasket or sealing member 132 is carried by rib 131.

Nib holder 113 has an annular shoulder 133. A sleeve or piston is mounted within barrel 11i) yand rests in shoulder 133 of nib holder 113, and is cemented or secured to shoulder 133 of nib holder 113. Barrel 110 has at its outer end a feed tube 141. The feed tube 141 may be constructed separately from the barrel 110 land later glued or secured to barrel 11) or made integral therewith. rl'he inner end of piston 140 has an outer annular rib or bead 142 similar to rib or bead 131. Annular rib or bead 142 is recessed to receive a gasket or sealing member 143. It will now be seen that the flanges 131 and 142 are provided in order to prevent the sleeve 140 from being displaced from the barrel 110. The gaskets 132 and 143 prevent leakage from expansible chamber C in the pen. An air bleed hole A is provided to relieve any pressure which might be created in the air space formed between the barrel 110 and sleeve 140.

The barrel 11) has an annular shoulder 145 formed therein. A washer 146 rests on shoulder 145 and is cemented or otherwise secured thereto. The washer 146 serves to hold a coil spring member 147 in position against a ball valve 148 which seats in the constrictcd portion 149 inside the feed tube 141. The ball valve 148 may be constructed of a light plastic or non-corrosive type resilient material capable of forming a tight seal in the constricted portion 149 within the feed tube 141. The feed tube 141 has a plunger 150 mounted in an opening 151 in the side wall of the feed tube 141 for lifting the ball valve 148 for reasons hereinafter described The plunger has an enlarged end or annular flange 152 which prevents dislocation of the plunger 150 from the feed tube 141. A hole large enough to receive the end of the plunger 150 is made in a side wall of the feed tube 141. vThe plunger is inserted and the hole or opening 151 is reduced in size by appropriate sealing, cementing or thermoplastic fusing operation, to prevent removal of the phmger from the hole or opening 151. A gasket 153 surrounds the plunger 150 to prevent leakage through ythe -hole 151 and about the plunger 150. A spring 154 maintains the plunger in extended position in addition to ball valve spring 147.

Figs. 10 and v12 show feed tube 141 of barrel 110 moditied in the manner of sleeve 40b in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. In these gures feed tube 141 is constricted. The end of barrel 110 provided with feed tube 141`has one wall which is thicker as at 173. An opening 174 is drilled 1n the thickened portion from the end of the feed tube 141 past the ball valve 148. An air relief tube 175 is inserted into the drilled opening 174 and connects the `atmosphere with the inside chamber C of the pen. Annular shoulders 176 and 177 are provided in feed tube 141. Centering spacers 178 and 179 are seated in shoulders 176 and 177 respectively and cemented therein. The spacers 178 and 179 are cruciform in shape as shown Fig. ll, but may be of any other convenient shape which wouldk permit flow of liquid around the spacers 178 and 179. An opening 180 is formed in spacer 178 to receive air relief tube 175. An opening 181. is formed in spacer 179. A tube 182 passes through the opening 181 and seats on spacer 178. Tube 182 extends the length of piston 140. A spacer 183 is located at the opposite .end of tube 182 yand maintains the tube 182 in a central position within piston 14). Spacer 183 is slightly less in 'diameter than the inner diameter of piston 140 to permit free sliding movement of the spacer 183 `in the piston 140. Tube 182 acts as a rigid support for flexible air relief tube 175 which is inserted into the tube 182 and ycemented thereto. In Figure l0, the end of tube 182 and air relief tube 175 is shown as seated against seat 121 for reasons hereinafter described Operation-Fllug the pen In lling the pen, shown in Figs. l through 5, the cap 12 is removed and the piston 48 is grasped by one hand at feed tube 41. The end of feed tube 41 is inserted into the ink supply. With the other hand the barrel 10 is drawn upwardly in the usual manner `of filling a piston type pen. When the barrel 10 is drawn upwardly valve 16 which has been in open position seats on valve seat 1S due to the fact that the end of air relief tube 64 no longer presses against leaf spring 18 to maintain the valve 16 away from valve seat 15. The leaf spring 18 which is always under tension operates to seat the valve member 16 on the valve seat 15. As the barrel 10 is drawn upwardly, a vacuum is created within chamber C of the pen. Atmospheric pressure pressing down on the ink supply causes the ball valve 48 to lift against the pressure of spring 47 permitting ink to enter the cham ber C. Some of the ink will rise in the capillary air relief tube 60 but because 0f its diameter, not an amount sufficient to prevent lifting of ball valve 48. As soon as the vacuum has been displaced by the ink supply, the spring 47 will seat the ball valve preventing the ink from draining out of the pen. The barrel 10 is then pushed downwardly upon the piston or sleeve 4d and any air that is trapped in chamber C will pass out through the air relief tube 60 forcing out any ink which may have been drawn up in the first part of the filling operation. As soon as the barrel 10 has been pushed down upon the piston 40 to full extent, the yend 64 -of the air relief tube 60 is sealed off by the seat 2-1on the leaf spring 18 while simultaneously the leaf spring 18 is bowed inwardly lifting the valve 16 from seat 15. The cap 12 is then screwed on to the barrel 10 and sealing seat 80 in the cap 12 prevents any possible leakage of the ink into the cap 12. The sealing seat80 is rotatable in cap 12 to prevent wear on the seat when in contact with the end of the feed tube 41. Any conventional means may be used for providing a rotatable sealing seat. The cap 12 also aids in `maintaining the sleeve 40 in closed position. With the valve 16 now open the ink will ow in the direction of the nib permitting operation of the pen for writing.

It will be apparent from the above that all the modications of this invention shown in Figures 6 through 9 operate in the same manner as the device in Figures l through 5 just described.

In the pen shown in Figs. l through l2, the filling operation is similar to that just described with the exception that the barrel 110 carrying bearing sleeve 130 is unscrewed or otherwise disengaged from nib holder 113 and the nib holder 113 is drawn upwardly while the barrel 110 with the feed tube 141 is held in the ink supply.

Operation.-Emptying or cleaning'the peny In emptying or cleaning the pen, shown in Figs. l through 5, the operation is similar to that of lling with the exception that the plunger is depressed to unseat the ball valve 48. The barrel 10 is then raised from the sleeve or piston 4l) permitting air to be drawn up into the chamber C of the pen. Upon pushing the barrel 10 down upon the piston 40, the air in chamber C forces the ink by the ball valve which is now raised to thus empty and clean the pen. The plunger 50 is then released and the ball valve again seats in constricted portion 49 in the feeding tube 41.

Operation-Filling the pen-alternate method The pen may also be lled in a manner somewhat similar to the emptying or cleaning yoperation just described. In this method, the plunger 50 is pushed in after the feed tube 41 has been inserted into the ink. The barrel 10 is drawn upwardly in the same manner as hereinbefore described during which time the plunger 5t) is maintained in a depressed position. When the barrel 10 has reached the maximum displacement, the plunger 50 is released. The remainder of the operation is as herebefore described. This positive action by the plunger 50 assures positive unseating of ball valve 48 and permits a great amount of ink to be drawn into the chamber C.

While the invention has been described in connection with different embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a nib holder connected to one end of said barrel, a Valve seat formed in said nib holder, a valve cooperable with said valve seat, means for urging said valve against said valve seat, a sleeve Within said barrel, said barrel slidable on said sleeve from a retracted to an extended position with respect to said sleeve whereby said sleeve forms within said barrel and expansible chamber, said barrel having a feed tube at its other end, a ball valve seated against said feed tube, means for urging said ball valve into seated position, anair relief tube in said sleeve connecting said expansible chamber with atmosphere and by-passing said ball valve and abutting said rst mentioned valve to maintain said first mentioned valve open when said barrel is in retracted position, means on said first mentioned valve for closing said air relief tube when said barrel is in retracted position, cooperating means on said barrel and said sleeve for maintaining ysaid barrel in retracted position, c-ooperating means on said barrel and said sleeve limiting the sliding movement of said barrel, and means extending through said barrel and contacting said ball valve for raising said ball valve from seated position for discharging said pen during cleaning operation.

2. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a nib holder connected to one end of said barrel, a valve seat formed in said barrel adjacent said nib holder, a valve cooperable with said valve seat, means for urging said valve against said valve seat, a piston sleeve having one end thereof slidable within said barrel from a retracted to an extended position with respect to said barrel, whereby said sleeve forms with said barrel an expansible chamber, said sleeve having a feed tube at its other end, a ball valve seated against said feed tube, means for urging said ball valve into seated position, an air relief tube in said sleeve extending Isubstantially the length of said sleeve connecting said expansible chamber with atmosphere and by-passing said ball valve and abutting said first mentioned valve to maintain said first mentioned valve open when said sleeve is in retracted position, means on said first mentioned valve for closing said air relief tube when said sleeve is in retracted position, cooperating means on said barrel and said `sleeve for maintaining said sleeve in retracted position, cooperating means on said barrel and said sleeve for limiting the sliding movement of said sleeve, and means extending through said barrel and contacting said ball valve for raising said ball valve from seated position for discharging said pen during cleaning operation.

3. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a nib `holder connected to one end of` said barrel, a valve seat formed in said nib holder, a valve cooperable with said valve seat, means for urging said valve against said valve seat, a sleeve within said barrel, said barrel slidable on said sleeve from a retracted to an extended position with respeet to said sleeve, whereby said sleeve forms within said barrel an expansible chamber, said barrel having a feed tube at its other end, a ball valve seated against said feed tube, means for urging said ball valve into seated position,an air relief tube in said sleeve connecting said expansible chamber with atmosphere and by-passing said ball valve and abutting said first mentioned valve to maintain said first mentionedy valve open when said barrel is in retracted position, means on said first mentioned valve for closing said air relief tube when said barrel is in retracted position, and cooperating means on said barrel and said sleeve for maintaining said barrel in v retracted position.

4. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a nib holder connected to one end of said barrel, a valve seat formed in said barrel adjacent said nib holder, a valve cooperable with said valve seat, means for urging said valve against said valve seat, a piston sleeve having one end thereof slidable within said barrel from a retracted to an extended position with respect to said barrel, whereby said sleeve forms with said barrel an expansible chamber, said sleeve having a feed tube'at its other end,`a ball valve seated against said feed tube, means for urging said ball valve into seated position, an air relief tube in said sleeve extending substantially the length of said sleeve connecting said expansible chamber with atmosphere and bypassing said ball valve and abutting said first mentioned valve to maintain said first mentioned valve open when said sleeve is in retracted position, means on said first mentioned valve for closing said air relief tube when said sleeve is in retracted position, and cooperating means on said barrel and said sleeve for maintaining said sleeve in retracted position.

5. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a nib holder connected to one end of said barrel, a valve seat formed in saidpen, a first valve cooperable with said valve seat, means for urging said first valve against said valve seat, said barrel having a chamber therein of variable capacity, said barrel having a feed tube at its other end, a second valve seated against said feed tube, means for urging said second valve into seated position, an air relief tube in said barrel extending substantially the length thereof connecting said chamber with atmosphere and by-passing said second valve and abutting said first valve to maintain said first valve open when said pen has been filled, means on said first valve for closing said air relief tube when said pen has been filled, and means in said pen for varying the capacity of said chamber creating a partial vacuum whereby ink will be drawn into said barrel during filling operation.

6. A fountain pen as in claim 5 and wherein said vacuum creating means comprises piston and cylinder elements, said barrel being one of said elements.

7. In a fountain pen, the means for filling the same comprising a barrel having one end connected to a nib holder, the other end of said barrel having a filling port and an air relief port, a first spring biased valve in said pen normally closed during filling operation for controlling liuid supply to said nib holder, a second spring biased valve in said barrel for opening and closing said filling port and normally open during filling operation and controllingl tiuid supply to said barrel, an air relief tube in said pen extending substantially the length of said barrel connecting said air relief port to the inside of said barrel i and by-passing said second valve, closure means in said pen for closing said air relief tube and displaceable therefrom during filling operation for controlling venting through said air relief tube during filling operation, and means in said pen for creating a partial vacuum whereby ink will be drawn into said barrel during filling operation.

8. A fountain pen as in claim 3 and having said feed tube having its central axis offset and parallel to the eentral axis of said barrel.

9. A fountain pen as in claim 3 and having said air relief tube carrying a spacer for maintaining said air relief tube centered within said sleeve.

10. A fountain pen as in claim 3 and having a tubular support for said air relief tube secured to said barrel for maintaining said air relief tube centered within said sleeve.

11. A fountain pen as in claim 4 and having said feed tube having its central axis offset and parallel to the central axis of said barrel.

l2. A fountain pen as in claim 4 and having said air relief tube integral with said sleeve.

13. A fountain pen as in claim 4 and having the wall of said sleeve longitudinally recessed to receive said air relief tube therein.

FOREIGN PATENTS 443,894 Germany May l2, 1927 

